Type-writing machine.



c. E. SMITH. TYIE WRITING MACHINE.

A LPPLIOATIOI FILED 001. 29, 1906. 972,935. Patented Oct. 18,1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR '10 UNION TYPEWRITERCOMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. SMITH, citizen of the United States, andresident of the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Type-VVriting Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to ribbon mechanism for typewriting machines andmore particularly to mechanism in which a ribbon is or may beautomatically moved into the path of an approaching type at eachprinting operation.

One object of my invention is to provide, in a construction of thecharacter specified, simple and eflicient means for regulating themechanism so that any desired field of the ribbon may be presented forcooperation with the printing instrumentalities, this feature of myinvention contemplating the use of a ribbon having fields of differentcharacteristics, although it is also useful in connection with aone-color ribbon.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for rendering themechanism inoperative tomove the ribbon (polychrome or otherwise) to theprinting point so that the machine may be readily employed for thepreparation of mimeograph sheets when desired.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter appear, my inventionconsists of the features of construction, arrangements of partsandcombinations of devices described in the following specification and setforth in the accompanying claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical, central, front to rear,sectional view of a sufficient number of parts of a typewriting machineto show my invention in its application thereto. Fig. 2 is a detailfragmentary transverse sectional view of the machine showing theadjusting means and the portion of the ribbon vibrator actuating meanswith which the adjusting means cooperates. Fig. 3' is an enlarged detailfragmentary plan view showing the connection between the two parts ofthe actuating link and the means for adjusting the same. Fig.

4 is a detail face view of the index plate.

I have shown my invention applied to a Monarch machine in which it maybe readily Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1906.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910. Serial No. 341,069.

employed without changing any of the structural features of suchmachine, though it should be understood that the invention may beapplied to other styles of machines.

Certain of the features shown in the present case are claimed broadly inmy applications Serial Nos. 337,738 and 337,739, filed October 6th,1906, the present case being restricted to features not contained orclaimed in said companion applications.

The framing of the machine comprises a base 1, corner posts 2 and a topplate 3. Key levers 4 are fulcrumed against a fulcrum plate 5 in thebase of the machine and are each provided with a restoring spring 6 anda key 7. Each key lever has pivoted thereto at 8 a sub-lever 9 connectedat its upper end as at 10 to a forwardly extending link 11 pivoted at 12to a type bar 13. The lower end of each sub-lever is slotted at 1 1 forcooperation with a fulcrum rod 15 which eX- tends beneath the key leversand is secured at its ends in the base of the machine. The type bars 13are segmentally arranged and are carried by hangers 16 secured by screws17 to a type bar segment 18. The type bars are supported at theirforward ends on a pad. 19 mounted on a segmental strip 20, supported byrods 21 which project forwardly from the type bar segment. The type barsstrike upwardly and rearwardly against the front face of a platen 22diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1. The platen 22 is carried by a carriage(not shown) which moves from side to side of the machine over the topplate in the usual manner, said carriage being connected at one end to astrap 23 which has its other end secured to a spring drum 24 to effect astep-by-step letter feed movement of the carriage from right toleft inthe usual manner when the escapement mechanism (not shown) is actuated.The spring drum actuates a beveled pinion 25 through a pawl and ratchetconnection (not shown) which turns said pinion when the carriage ismoving in letter space direction but not in the other direc' tion. Saidpinion 25 cooperates with the usual mechanism for turning the ribbonspools 2G to effect a longitudinal feed of the ribbon, such mechanismbeing like that, for instance, usually employed in the Monarch machine.

A ribbon 27 extends from a ribbon spool 26 at one side of the machine toa like ribbon spool at the opposite side of the machine and ispreferably a polychrome ribbon having fields a and Z) of differentcharacteristics; thus, the field a may be of one color and the field bof another color, or the field a may be record ribbon and the field 5copying ribbon. In the passage of the ribbon from one spool to anotherit passes through guide openings in a ribbon vibrator 28 which is of theusual construction and is guided in its vertical movement by a fixedguide 29. The ribbon vibrator has a depending stem 30 pivoted at 31 tothe forwardly-extending arm of a ribbon-vibrator actuating lever 32pivoted on a fixed pivot or fulcrum at 33 to a depending bracket 34 onthe top plate of the machine. The rear end of the lever 32 is pivotallyconnected at 35 to an upright two-part link or two relatively adjustablelink members designated as a whole by the reference numeral 36. Thelower end of this link is pivoted at 37 to a rearwardly extending arm 38which projects from and is formed as a part of a rock shaft 39 adaptedto turn in bearings in the base of the machine. This arm and the rockshaft constitute parts of a universal bar frame which carries theuniversal bar proper 40 which extends beneath the key levers 4 and isactuated at each printing operatlon.

The universal bar frame is operatively connected to the usual restoringspring (not shown) which restores the universal bar and the partsconnected therewith to normal position. The two-part link 36 comprises alower part 41 and an upper part 42. A block 43 is rigidly secured to theupper end of the lower part 41 and has a member or crank arm 44 pivotedthereto by a headed pivot screw 45 (see Fig. The stem of the pivot screw45 passes through a perforation in a leaf spring 46 to secure one end ofthe spring to the member 44. The free end of the spring carries alocking projection 47 which is beveled at its free end as at 48 andpasses through an opening in the member 44 so that it may cooperate withany one of the three depressions 49 in the in nor face of the block 43so as to lock or hold the members 43 and 44 in a fixed relation and inthe position to which the mem-v ber 44 may be adjusted around its pivot45. The upper member 42 of the two-part link is pivoted at 50 (Fig. 1)to the member 44 intermediate the ends of the latter and passes througha space 43 in the Ineinber 43. The member 44 has ears 51 struck uptherefrom and projecting at right angles to the plane of the bodyportion of said member. These ears are slotted at 52 (see Fig. 3) forthe reception of pins 53. These pins are carried by and projectlaterally from an adjusting rod 54 which extends toward the right andprojects through an opening 55 in a side plate 56 of the machine. Theouter end of the rod 54 is provided with a knurled head or key 57. Apointer 58 is secured to the rod outside of the side plate 56 forcooperation with an index plate 59, shown in detail in Fig. 4, which issecured to the side plate 56. The construction is such that the ribbonvibrator may be actuated in the usual manner through the two-part link36 and during the up and down movement of this link the inner end of therod 54 will partake of such movement. By turning. the knurled head 57 anadjustment of the member 44 may be effected around its pivot 45 to raiseor lower the upper link section 42 and to lengthen or shorten theactuating link 36 as a whole. The normal positions of the parts when setto write upon the uppermost or black field a of the ribbon are thoseshown in Fig. 1. At this time the pointer 58 will appear at the indexopposite the word Black to indicate that the parts are set so that theblack field of the ribbon will be moved to the printing point at eachprinting operation.

By turning the rod 54 through the finger piece or key 57 until thepointer registers with the index mark opposite the word Red anadjustment of the member 44 will be effected to displace thespring-pressed pin 47 from the center aperture 49 and to seat it in thelowermost aperture 49 in the member 43. This adjustment of the fingerpiece 57 shortens the link 36 and changes the normal position of thevibrator actuating lever, elevating the ribbon vibrator to a differentnormal position. An actuation of a printing key at this time will causethe lowermost or red field I) of the ribbon to be moved to the printingpoint. By adjusting the finger piece 57 to bring the pointer 58 oppositethe indicator at the abbreviation Mimeo., the part 44 will be elevated,displacing the spring pressed pin 48 from the aperture 49 in which itwas seated and allowing it to become seated in the uppermost aperture49. This adjustment of the finger piece 57 results in lengthening thetwo-part link 36, thereby lowering the ribbon vibrator to the lowestnormal position which it can attain. If at this time a printing key beactuated it will result in elevating the vibrator but the extent ofelevation is insufiicient to bring the ribbon to the printing point sothat the types may impact directly against the mimeograph sheet on theplaten.

From the foregoing descriptionit will be seen that I have providedsimple and efficient means which may be readily applied to existingforms of typewriting machines without changing the structural featuresof such machines, and by merely replacing the ordinary link usuallyemployed in the Monarch machine, for instance, with a pair of relativelyadjustable links or a two-part link 36 of the character described andconnecting it with its adjusting means.

While I have described the ribbon 27 as one having fields of difi'erentcharacteristics it should be understood that the invention is alsoapplicable to a ribbon of a single color or characteristic. When such aribbon is employed the adjustment of the two-part link may be used tocause the impacts of the type to take place against different parallellongitudinal fields of the ribbon in order to more completely use thewidth of the ribbon.

From certain aspects of my invention the construction may be employed asa mimeograph device with or without employing it for diiierent fields ofthe ribbon, or the invention may be employed for using diiferent fieldsof the ribbon without employing it for mimeograph purposes. It will beunderstood that in adjusting the device whether for changing theeffective field of the ribbon or for mimeograph purposes, there is noconnection or disconnection efiected between the parts; that there is nolost motion whatever between the parts for either of the purposesstated, the parts for actuating the ribbon vibrator being at all timesmaintained positively connected; that consequently the touch on thefinger keys is uniform at all times irrespective of the adjust ment ofthe member 57, and that there is little liability of the mechanismbecoming deranged or broken.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

What I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon having fieldsof different characteristics; a ribbon vibrator; a universal bar;intermediate connections between said universal bar and vibrator, saidconnections including a pair of links, which links are movable bodilytogether as one part and which are separate from but are operativelyconnected to the ribbon vibrator and means for eifecting a relativelength wise adjustment between said links to determine which field ofthe ribbon shall be presented to operative position.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon having fieldsof different characteristics; a ribbon vibrator; a universal bar;intermediate connections between said universal bar and vibrator, saidconnections including a pair of links, which links are movable bodilytogether as one part and which are separate from but are operativelyconnected to the ribbon vibrator;

and an adjusting device carried by one of said links and cooperativewith the other link to etl'ect a shortening or lengthening in thecombined length of the links and thereby determining which field of theribbon shall be presented to operative position.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; auniversal bar; intermediate connections between said universal bar andvibrator, said connections including a pair of links, which links aremovable bodily together as one part and which are separate from but areoperatively connected to the ribbon vibrator; a crank arm forming theconnection between said links; and means for effecting an adjustment ofsaid crank arm.

4:. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a ribbon vibrator; auniversal bar; intermediate positive and constantly maintainedconnections between said universal bar and vibrator, said connectionsincluding a two-part link, the two parts of which are movable togetheras one part and which are separate from but are operatively connected tothe ribbon vibrator; adjusting means for efiecting a relative lengthwiseadjustment between the parts of said link; and indicating means toassist in effecting the desired adjustment of said adjusting means.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; auniversal bar; intermediate positive and constantly maintainedconnections between said universal bar and vibrator, said connectionsincluding a two-part link, the two parts of which are movable togetheras one part and which are separate from but are operatively connected tothe ribbon vibrator; adjusting means for efiecting a relative lengthwiseadjustment between the parts of said link;

and controlling means extending outside the framing of the machine foroperating said adjusting means.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; auniversal bar; intermediate positive and constantly maintainedconnections between said universal bar and vibrator, said connectionsincluding a two-part link the two parts of which are movable together asone part and which are separate from but are operatively connected tothe ribbon vibrator; adjusting means for effecting a relative lengthwiseadjustment between the parts of said link; in dicating means to assistin effecting the de sired adjustment of said adjusting means; andcontrolling means extending outside the framing of the machine foroperating said adjusting means.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, keyactuated means tor actuatlng said vibrator, said actuating meanslncludlng a two-part link, the

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two parts of which are movable together as one part and which areseparate from but are operatively connected to the ribbon vibrator; andhand actuated means carried by the machine and extending to and operablefrom outside the machine for effecting a relative adjustment between themembers of said link.

8. In a' typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; keyactuated means for actuating said vibrator, said actuating meansincluding a two-part link, the two parts of which are movable togetheras one part and which are separate from but are operatively connected tothe ribbon vibrator; and key actuated means for lengthening andshortening said link.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; keyactuated means for actuating said vibrator, said actuating meansincluding a two-part link separate from but operatively connected withsaid ribbon vibrator; and hand actuated means for lengthening andshortening said link and for maintaining the parts in the adjustedposition during the actuation of the machine and thereby changing thenormal position of the vibrator.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon having fieldsof different characteristics, a ribbon vibrator, key actuated means formoving said vibrator at each printing operation, said key actuated meansincluding a two-part link separate from but operatively connected withsaid ribbon vibrator, the two parts of said link being movable togetheras one part; and hand actuated adjusting means for lengthening orshortening said link to bring any desired field of the ribbon to theprinting point when the vibrator is actuated.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, andkey actuated means for actuating said ribbon vibrator, said actuatingmeans comprising a twopart link separate from but operatively connectedwith said ribbon vibrator, two members pivoted together, each of saidpivoted members having a part of the link connected thereto, and handactuated means for effecting a relative movement between said pivotallyunited members to effect a lengthening and shortening of said link.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, anactuating lever therefor, a universal bar, an intermediate two-part linkbet-ween said lever and universal bar, hand actuated adjustable meansthat extend to the outside of the machine for lengthening and shorteningthe link, and means for holding the parts of the link in a fixedrelation in any one of three positions that they may be adjusted torelatively to each other,

one adjustment of the parts affording a writing on one field of theribbon, another adjustment affording a writing on another field of theribbon and a third adjustment rendering the means inoperative to movethe ribbon to the printing point.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation of a ribbon vibrator, anactuating lever therefor that vibrates on a fixed fulerum, a universalbar, a link between said universal bar and actuating lever, said linkbeing made up of a plurality of sections and having constantly andpositively maintained connections with said universal bar and lever atall times, and adjustable means associated with said link sections andextending outside the machine for changing the normal position of thevibrator.

1a. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, anactuating lever therefor that vibrates on a fixed fulcrum, a universalbar, a link between said universal bar and actuating lever, said linkhaving constantly and positively maintained connections with saiduniversal bar and lever at all times, and adjustable means associatedwith said link and extending outside the machine for lengthening andshortening the link and thus changing the normal position of thevibrator.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, andkey actuated means for actuating the vibrator, said actuating meanscomprising a lever and a two-part member for actuating said lever, andmeans that extend outside of the machine for increasing or decreasingthe length of said two-part member.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; keyactuated means for actuating the vibrator; means for determining whetherone or another field of the ribbon shall be presented to the printingpoint or whether said actuating means shall be rendered ineffective tomove the ribbon to the printing point, said determining means comprisinga two-part member included as a part of the actuating means, means thatextend outside of the machine for increasing or decreasing the length ofsaid two-part member, and means whereby the lengthening or shortening ofsaid twopart member changes the throw of the vibrator and therebydetermines which field shall be presented or renders the actuating meansinoperative to move the ribbon to the printing point.

17. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator; keyactuated means for actuating the vibrator, said actuating meanscomprising an actuating device, an actuated device, and an intermediatetwo-part member pivotally connected to the actuating and actuateddevices, the two parts of said two-part member being movable bodilytogether as one part; adjusting means that extend outside of the machinefor increasing or decreasing the length of said two-part member; andindicating means cooperating with said adjusting means.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, andkey actuated means for actuating the vibrator, said actuating meanscomprising a two-part member, adjusting means that extend outside of themachine for increasing or decreasing the length of said two-part member,said adjusting means comprising a handactuated rod that is adapted to beturned and which is connected to said two-part member and movestherewith during printmg operation.

19. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, andkey actuated means for actuating the vibrator, said actuating meanscomprising a two-part member, a pivotally united device which connectsthe parts of said two-part member, adjusting means that extend outsideof the machine and which are connected to said device for increasing ordecreasing the length of said two-part member, said ad justing meanscomprising a hand-actuated rod that is adapted to be turned and whichmoves with the two-part member during the actuation of the vibrator butis adapted to be turned. to effect an adjustment between the parts ofsaid member through said device.

20. In atypewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, andkey actuated means for actuating the vibrator, said actuating meanscomprising a two-part member, adjusting means that extend outside of themachine for increasing or decreasing the length of said two-part mcmher,said adjusting means comprising a hand actuated rod that is adapted tobe turned and which is connected to said twopart member and movestherewith during the actuation of the vibrator but is adapted to beturned to eflect an adjustment between the parts of said member, apointer carried by said rod, and an index cooperating with said pointer.

21. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator,means for actuating the ribbon vibrator, said actuating means comprisinga two-part member separate from butoperatively connected with saidribbon vibrator, means for lengthening and shortening said member, and aspring catch for holding the two parts of said member together in anyone of a plurality of relative positions to which they may be adjusted.

22. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon having fieldsof differversal bar, and intermediate connections between said universalbar and vibrator, said 1 connections being separate from but operativelyconnected with said vibrator and including a lever and a pair of links,and means for effecting a relative lengthwise adjustment between saidlinks to determine which field of the ribbon shall be presented tooperative position.

23. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon having fieldsof different characteristics; a ribbon vibrator; a universal bar;intermediate connections between said universal bar and vibrator, saidconnections including a lever mounted to turn on a fixed fulcrum, a pairof links; and an adjusting device carried by one of said links andcoiiperating with the other link to effect a shortening or lengtheningin the combined length of the links and thereby determining which fieldof the ribbon shall be presented to operative position.

24. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, auniversal bar, intermediate positive and constantly maintainedconnections between said universal bar and vibrator said connectionsincluding a two-part link, a lever intermediate said link and vibratorand to which lever the two-part link" is connected, adjusting means foreffecting a relative lengthwise adjustment between the parts of saidlink, and indicating means to assist in effecting the desired adjustmentof said adjusting means.

25. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, auniversal bar, intermediate positive and constantly maintainedconnections between said universal bar and vibrator, said connectionsincluding a lever mounted to turn on a fixed fulcrum, a two-part linkfor actuating said lever, adjusting means for effecting a relativelengthwise adjustment between the parts of said link, and controllingmeans extending outside the framing of the machine for operating saidadjusting means.

26. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator, keyactuated means for actuating said vibrator, said actuating meansincluding a lever, a two part link for actuating said lever, and handacent characteristics a ribbon vibrator a uniing said link.

27. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a ribbon vibrator andkey actuated means for actuating the vibrator, said actuating meanscomprising a lever and a two-part member connected with said lever; andmeans that extend outside of the machine for increasing or decreasingthe length of said two-part member to any of three different lengths,the lengthening tuated means for lengthening and shorten 7 ing point orWhether said actuating means shall be rendered inefiective to move theribbon to the printing point.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county ofNew York and State of New York, this 26th day of 10 October, A. D. 1906.

CHARLES E. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

E. M. WELLS, J. B. DEEVES.

